Support for microphones and the like



Jan. 23, 1940. MALAT 2,188,150

SUPPORT FOR MICROPHONES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 50, 1937 gwue/wbo'b FRANK I NALAT Patented Jan. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR MICROPHONES AND THE LIKE Application December 30, 1937, Serial No. 182,512

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a support for electrical apparatus and more particularly to a hinge joint for pivotally supporting a casing on a standard or other fixed support. The primary object of the invention is to provide a hinge joint which is simple in construction, capable of economical manufacture and assembly and which has certain meritorious features to be hereinafter fully described.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for the passage of the electrical conductors through the joint whereby the conductors are protected from injury during the swinging of said casing.

16 A further object of the invention is to provide a hinge joint for the purpose described which presents an attractive appearance in all positions of the casing, with no pins or screws showing.

A still further object of the invention is to 90 provide means in a joint of the kind described whereby no part of the highly finished surfaces exposed to view is subjected to rubbing or other actions which detract from the appearance of the assembly.

25 Yet another object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein but a single unitary element of simple design is effective to maintain the pivotal axis, to provide friction to hold the casing in selected position, and to prevent 80 axial shifting of the parts whereby objectional rubbing or abrading action between certain parts is prevented.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consid- 35 eration of the drawing and the following detailed specification. In the drawing identical reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the various views, and

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional View of the asq!) sembled casing, hinge joint, and upper part of the supporting standard;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified clamping 45 member.

The invention is shown as applied to a. microphone having a bullet-shaped casing [0, an end ferrule H and a forward screen I2 secured in an annular recess 13 of the ferrule by soldering 50 or otherwise. A translating unit 16 for converting the sound waves into electrical impulses is clamped between the open end of casing Ill and the ferrule H and has attached thereto suitable conductors l5 which" pass downwardly through 55 the hinge joint and supporting standard.

The inner surface of the casing 10 is provided with diametrically opposed shoulders 25 and 26, and the material of the casing is heavied outwardly from the shoulder 25 to provide a plane surface 35 having substantial chordal width. I Shoulder 26 is provided with an arcuately shaped groove on its outer surface for the partial reception of a hinge pin 21 which forms the pivotal axis of the joint.

A disk 20 provided with the bore l9, as shown, 10 is suitably secured to an upper edge of the capped standard member 32 as by soldering at 33, for example. Disk 30 is partially received within the casing in, a slot 22 being provided in the side wall of the casing to allow for passage of the disk. Pin-2l is passed through the central aperture in disk and is held in position in the groove of shoulder 26 by the resilient spring plate 23 which in turn is secured to the casing by means of the head screw 24 screw threaded into so a threaded bore in the boss I1.

As shown, the plate 23 is slotted at 21 a substantial distance from one end, the slot being of a width slightly less than'the thickness of the disk 28 whereby the separated ends of the member 23 will frictionally grip the disk 20 held therebetween. Plate 23 is made of resilient steel to give the proper resilient pressure and, if desired, it may be cupped slightly to reduce the pressure exerted on the disk. The bifurcated end thereof is arcuately shaped, lateral displacement thereof cannot take place and consequently the slot 27 and disk 20 is securely held against lateral movement. This construction prevents the sidesof the disk 20 from contacting the edges of the slot 22 and in actual practice the clearance v between the two may be made quite small.

The exterior surfaces of the casing I0, disk 20 and cap 32 are provided with a nickel plated or other finish to enhance the appearance of the assembly and since the disk 20 is prevented from moving laterally into contact with edges of the casing I0, no surface which may be exposed will be damaged by rubbing with other surfaces. It should be noted that the arrangement of the parts is such that that portion of the disk which t iproyided to resilientlypress the arms toward each lihood of their being damaged is remote.

' Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of clamping plate which may be substituted-for the plate.

23 of Figures 1 and 2. This modified plate, des-. ignated 40 is provided with a large end slot 43 to accommodate the disk anda smaller slot 43 in general continuation of the first mentioned slot. Since the member is bifurcated for substantiallyiits' entire length; thetwoarms thereof may beereadily /movedctoward and 1 away from eachr'other." A coil; springzlM having hooked ends to.- engage-the opposite'sider-edgesof the arms is otherr'andninto frictional contact with the side surliaces oft'therdisk-fifls A central aperture 4| is ZDI'OViLdEdifOI:!thE passage of the screw 24.

The ease with which the parts of the hinge joint;maybewmanufactured and assembled should bexapparenti lniassemblingitis only necessary tonpassnthe disk 20 :through slot 22, insert the pinefltandeinsert and Iclampzthe member 23 or 4mm positions. The only tool required is ascrew driverand since the .head of screw 24 is centrally locatedand:easi1y:reached;'the tighteningof the o5=t-in -a "casing; an opening *in aside wall 'of said pants is-readily accomplished.

While I 'have shown and: described the invention inrconnection witlr a microphone, it is obviousthat it may-'beused with a great number of other instrumentalities and therefore the above described embodiment shouldbe considered as illustrative only. Also, many changes in the spee cific fOI'llliDf. theumembers constituting the supportimay beemade'without departing from the spiritior: scope of. the invention;

What-I iclaim is:

1.i.A;-support 'for electrical apparatus comprisingaa casinggzaislotin a walliof said casing, a fixed memberrjaidisklsecured tosaid fixed member and extending through" said slot into said casing, shoulders inssaid"casing adjacent the side edges ofrsaid slot, apin=passing centrally through said disk'and having itsuends. seated onsaid shoulders,

:a bifurcated-resilient member {Within said casin havingits forked ends on :either side of said disk andzengagingithe ends oisaidpin-to provide frictional :resistance to: rotative movement of said diskrandato securesaid pin-imposition, means to [prevent movementof said. bifurcated member relative tossaids casing, andia chordal bore throughssaid diskextendingfrcm outside to with:-

in said casing, for the passage or conductors.

2; Asupport for electrical apparatus compriscasing, afixed member extending through said openingand partially received within said casing; said member being trunnioned within said casingj-a resilient bifurcated-member in said casi'ng having'its 'fo'rked ends in-spring pressed engagement with either side of said first mentioned member whereby said first mentioned member is retained in: position and frictionally restrained from rotative' movement; means to prevent movetiment'of "saidresilient member relative to said casing, and a bore through said first mentioned member passing from outside to within said casmg. 3. A support for electrical apparatus comprismg a fixed standard member, a rounded member secured to the upper end of said standard member, .a casing having. an opening for the free passage of said rounded member. into and out of said casing, means pivotally mounting said casing on said rounded member, means Wholly within said casing preventing axial movement of saidmoundedmember: relative to said casing, said means being operative to frictionally restrain relative rotationalvmovement between said rounded .memberand said casing, and a bore extending throughssaid rounded member connecting said standard member with said casmg whereby conductors extending upwardly through saidstandard may be extended into said casing.

MA support for; electrical apparatus comprising a fixed'member; a casing having an'opening. mrits 8168 wall Ifor the reception of said mem ber 'diametri'c'ally opposed shoulders on the inner Sul1aC"OfS2l1d casing; means pivotally mountingzsaidtcasing on' said fixed member comprising a hinge pin passing-through said member andhaving its rendsi resting. on one of saidshoulders,

unitary resilient member having one end positioned'on :the other .ofJsaid shoulders, theother endw'ofwsaid' resilient member being bifurcated for-theereception of a portion of 'saidfixedmemher; the w-bifurcated :end of. said resilient member overlying the ends of said hinge pin and fric tionallyzengaging said:fixed member to restrain see the rotational zmovement ofsaid casing-relative toxsaid fixed member,: and a bore through said fixed imemb'er' for the passage of electrical conductors- 5 -.A:hinge-joint"comprising a fixed member, a swrngable member, a portion of said fixed member;being-received in saidswingable member; a-

hingerpini'passing:through said fixed member; a support for said pin in said swingable-member,

and a bifurcated resilient member in said'swi'n'g-. able member having its arms overlying-said pin; on-sald support, said arms engaging a portionof' said fixed member to frictionally resist rotational movement between the fixed member and theswingable member.

d ll/leans pivotally supporting "a casing com-- prisin a fixed disk supported adjacent its periphery, a slotin saidcasing for the reception'of a portion-of said disk, a hinge pinpassing centraliy through said disk, a support irrsaidcasing for said pin, and-a resilient bifurcatedqmembersecured within said casing and having its arms irrationally engaging either side of said 'disk,

said'arms clamping said pin to said support and.

ery, a slot in said casing for the receptionof-a portion of-said disk, a hinge'pin passing centrally through said disk, a shoulder in saidcasing to suppc rtsaid pin, a-secondashoulder in said casing.v

diametrically spaced from said first mentioned shoulder, a -resilient .plate slotted on the'secon'd ting about said-disk, and means to adjustably clanip'said plate to said shoulders.

8. A device-according to claim '7 including means to prevent any relative movement between said plate and said casing.

9. A device according to claim 7 in which a plane-surface is provided immediately above said second mentioned shoulder, the end of said plate 1 opposite the slotted end being squared to fit against said plane surface whereby rotational movement of said plate is prevented.

10. Means pivotally supporting a casing comprising a fixed member, a slot in said casing for the free passage of a portion of said member into and out of said casing, means within said casing to pivotally engage said portion when the same is inserted through said slot to pivotally mount said casing on said member, and means within said casing to resiliently engage said member, said last mentioned means being operative to frictionally 5 from outside of to within said casing for the 10 passage of a conductor cord. FRANK J. MALAT. 

